“Snowpiercer” hit Korean thriller to open LA Film Fest

April 2, 2014 - 13:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Bong Joon-ho's “Snowpiercer” has been named opening-night film of the 20th anniversary Los Angeles Film Festival, Film Independent announced on Tuesday, April 1, according to TheWrap.

The futuristic thriller, which stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Octavia Spencer, will have its North American premiere on Wednesday, June 11 at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The film will be released in the U.S. on June 27 by RADiUS/TWC.

“Snowpiercer” is set in the near future, in an Ice Age environment accidentally created in an attempt to stave off global warming. It is based on the graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob & Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette.

“Snowpiercer is a wild ride and a spectacular way to open the 20th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Film Festival which is dedicated to the visionary spirit of L.A. that inspires artists around the world,” said festival director Stephanie Allain in the press release announcing the selection.

Added artistic director David Ansen, “I'm thrilled to have Bong Joon-ho's amazing Snowpiercer to kick off the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival. As fans of ‘The Host’ and ‘Mother’ know, Bong takes popular genres to a visionary new level. Here, he puts us on a speeding train in a frozen post-apocalyptic future — in the company of Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang-ho, Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer, Jamie Bell and John Hurt — and treats us to a wild, funny and darkly provocative ride.”

The Los Angeles Film Festival is produced by Film Independent, and will feature nearly 200 films, shorts and music videos from 30 countries. The rest of the lineup, and additional programming, will be announced in upcoming weeks — with the full slate of films due to be released on May 6.